While we’re about to go design potty over here with the London Design Festival 2012 this week, the Parisians have been having their own fun. Paris Design Week ran last week and is a relatively new phenomenon, having been introduced by Maison & Objet just last year. This year there were 150 venues including showrooms, art and design galleries and other cultural institutions, but also hotels and restaurants celebrating design.

The organisers put together several themed itineraries: Art and Design, Design and Architecture, Iconic and Upcoming, Digital Design and Innovation, Design en France, Food and Design and Mobility.

We were taken with the Food and Design itinerary, which took in everything from functional containers to ‘table art’ along a route that included La Maison du Chocolat, Lenotre, La Milk Factory, La Pattiserie des Reves…

Another highlight was “now! le off : the design incubator” - dedicated to 100 graduates and new designers - a great space to spot new talent and upcoming trends.

Christopher Curtis of design and concept store Lifestyle Bazaar called it “edgy, niche and new”. “Paris Design Week is a more low-key, seemingly calmer experience than London [Design Festival],’ he says. ‘Maybe it's because the city lends itself more to meandering around. Plus Paris is smaller so it's a lot easier to get about and see things...”

Vive la France! And roll on London Design Week 2012! More on that and ACHICA About Town later this week...

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The ACHICA Living blog brings you interior design ideas and inspiration for your home, garden and lifestyle. The blog goes behind the scenes to highlight the hottest design trends, share essential expert advice and bring you exclusive interviews with the movers and shakers of the design industry so you can shop for the best products.